First I have to say that Bill Ritter is a good person who truly loves Colorado and did what he thought was in Colorado’s best interest. He is one of the very few politicians I would trust to babysit my kids. I’m just not happy about the energy bills he is going to make my kids pay.
TABOR — To put it lightly, during the Ritter administration, TABOR was re-worded. The interpretation of our constitutionally protected TABOR amendment by our Supreme Court was a simple piece of advice: Don’t say “tax,” just say “fee.” And that’s exactly what the Governor did. By raising our “fees,” he side-stepped the voter approval required of all tax increases. Brilliant!
NEW ENERGY ECONOMY — The left correctly despises corporate welfare, but somehow manages to overlook it when it comes to subsidizing “green” energy. How many taxpayer dollars have been confiscated and used to prop up solar and wind companies here?
OIL & GAS — The Ritter administration helped push through rules that made drilling for oil and gas much more difficult. That was Ritter’s energy policy in a nutshell: Punish the cheap and reliable energy sources while subsidizing the inefficient and expensive forms of energy. That way, everyone except green energy special interests lose.
LEGACY — Let’s not forget that the good guv spent more than $200,000 of our money on TV, photographs and videos of himself doing things. What things? I dunno, things that governors typically do. Perhaps Carly Simon might have something to say about that.
BALLOT MEASURES — The Ritter administration was no friend to the citizen initiative process. He signed into law House Bill 1326, which makes the petition process accessible only to the wealthy.
HEALTH CARE — While other states are trying to get out of federal Medicaid arrangements because they are fast-track to bankruptcy, our governor pushes hundreds of thousands of new people into it! Don’t believe that the Medicaid rolls are a state budget buster, take a look at the health care section of our Citizens’ Budget.

That’s about all the reminiscing I can handle for one day. It’s time to look forward to 2011 and the brand new Hickenlooper administration. Good luck John.

Remember, if you need any help with balancing the budget, we’ve got the perfect resource for you.

_______________

Tomorrow: Laura Chapin, former press aide. If you have an anecdote to share, contact lbartels@denverpost.com.

Here’s the first entry in the 2011 “Headlines That Are Oxymorons’ contest: ; ‘CALDARA THiNKS’

Wmc2020

Here’s the first entry in the 2011 “Headlines That Are Oxymorons’ contest: ; ‘CALDARA THiNKS’

Dieter Zerressen

Who cares what Caldera thinks. He doesn’t hold an elected post and doesn’t run any corporation that produces anything useful. Please, the Independence Institute? Get a real job.

Dieter Zerressen

Who cares what Caldera thinks. He doesn’t hold an elected post and doesn’t run any corporation that produces anything useful. Please, the Independence Institute? Get a real job.

MtnState55

Lest we discount the impact of higher “fees”, energy costs and incestuous liaison with State employees and the the corresponding impact upon keeping businesses and attracting new businesses.

**The denial of an expanded Fort Carson training range due to the “eco-impact”, which actually has less of a “footprint” than cattle wandering aimlessly. – Tanks stay on specific roads, shot only in precise areas, the ranchers could use the land 9 months a year and Colorado would have gotten $200 Million in new salaries from another division.

To put Ritter in the light of great Democrat Strategist; Rahm Emmanual – “Democrats are retards”

Wmc2020

Thanks so much for your plagarism of the Army’s Public Disinformation Comic Book. Please prepare a spot on your property to park a tank. . An expanded Ft., Carson training range would be perfect in central Colorado Springs so you would have quick access to your top priority in life i.e. all that money.

MtnState55

Lest we discount the impact of higher “fees”, energy costs and incestuous liaison with State employees and the the corresponding impact upon keeping businesses and attracting new businesses.

**The denial of an expanded Fort Carson training range due to the “eco-impact”, which actually has less of a “footprint” than cattle wandering aimlessly. – Tanks stay on specific roads, shot only in precise areas, the ranchers could use the land 9 months a year and Colorado would have gotten $200 Million in new salaries from another division.

To put Ritter in the light of great Democrat Strategist; Rahm Emmanual – “Democrats are retards”

Wmc2020

Thanks so much for your plagarism of the Army’s Public Disinformation Comic Book. Please prepare a spot on your property to park a tank. . An expanded Ft., Carson training range would be perfect in central Colorado Springs so you would have quick access to your top priority in life i.e. all that money.

Anonymous

There ya go, attacking the messenger again, and not the message. Jon’s right, unfortunately for us……….

Anonymous

There ya go, attacking the messenger again, and not the message. Jon’s right, unfortunately for us……….

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.